Baking Beauties. . .

Tradition at our home includes a day of baking for the girls.

In my opinion, they are all ‘beauties’.  Guess they take after their dad mom. (hee-hee)!

My youngest daughter, Kylee arrived Tues night.  Just in time for our ‘day of candy making’.  She actually came home a day early so she wouldn’t miss out on the fun.

She is making mints.  Doesn’t she look like she’s having a good time stirring that chocolate?

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Nichole, my Christmas baby is making cheese balls.  She will make 6, one for each family.

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I must confess, this pic of my daughter, Karrah is from last year. I thought I had gotten one, but nada.  She’s happily posing by two of our drop cluster sweets.

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My new dil, Samantha and granddaughter, Jordyn showing off the white chocolate popcorn Sam just finished.

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You know how the new kid in town always gets picked on?  Poor Sam was the brunt of everyone’s joke.  Anything that went wrong, it was Sam’s fault.  Nichole knows that I don’t like the cluster goodies to be too huge.  She jokingly said, “Mom, Sam made the Chow Mein Noodle ‘clusters too big.

Then Karrah blamed her for the ‘Peanut Butter’ cups not being perfect.  Sam was a good sport and smiled through all of it.

Taylor, my 12 (almost 13) yr. old granddaughter is glad to crush the graham crackers for us.

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Have you ever seen such a messy kitchen?  I pull out all the ingredients, sit the recipe on top and let them have at it.

These two little cuties aren’t much help, but they never lack for entertainment.

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I still chop nuts the old fashioned way.  We did plenty of that to cover 6 cheese balls and to top our toffee.  Lucky for me, Jordy was willing to take a turn,

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By the end, we have made so many sweets that it would make your head spin.  After we each grab a few tins and fill it for each family to take home it’s not nearly as much as it looks.

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This toffee is (in my opinion) to die for!  I was given the recipe from a lady in my old neighborhood about 5 years ago.  I thought I would share it with you.

2 Cups Sweet Butter (cold from freezer)      2 Scant Tbs. Water

1 1/3 C. Sugar                                           10 oz. M. Choc Chips

Cut whole almonds into thirds.  Place on cookie sheet and bake in 350 degree oven for 5 min.  Stir, cook three more min.  (Mine are done in 5 min. in my oven)  Spread coarse nuts on bottom of an 8 x 11 buttered glass pan.  In heavy sauce pan combine butter, sugar, and water.  Cook over med. high heat, stirring constantly. Watch for change of color and some smoking.  Continue stirring.   Mixture should start to streak and then turn brown. (about the color of a brown paper bag.) Cooking time will be about 12 min. from start to finish. Takes a bit longer on electric stove (255) degrees.  I do not use a candy thermometer.  Pretty easy to tell when ready.  Remove from heat.  Immediately pour over nuts. Don’t scrape bottom. Sprinkle choc. chips over hot candy.  Let sit a few minutes then spread.  Sprinkle finely chopped almonds on top.  Let cool completely, 4 or 5 hours.  Loosen edges with a knife and candy will easily lift out of pan.  Break into bite size pieces. *Do NOT use Cache Valley Butter – it separates every time.

This toffee is extra thick and so yummy!  Everyone that tastes it loves it.

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A very Merry Christmas to you and yours!

Jann

12 comments

McFadden said...

I do like the new toffee, but I think I still prefer the electric frying pan recipe. Too bad for me; no pan so no candy.

camp and cottage living said...

Jann
Well you sure had a kitchen full of beautiful cooks. And I noticed everyone was wearing a very cute apron too! I bet they were ones you
sewed yourself.
If I have time tomorrow (yeh, right) I'm going to try your toffee.
Merry Christmas to you and yours!

Vicki/Jake said...

I've tasted some of your Halloween candy so I know this has to be Yummo! So, who got to clean up? haha Merry Christmas to all of you:) Enjoy your time together, that's what it's all about...

Kris said...

What fun!!! Happy, happy times!! Merry Christmas!!

GratefulPrayerThankfulHeart said...

Love seeing the photos of all these beautiful girls in the kitchen making so much yummy stuff! What a fun day for everyone. Tell Sam we have an on-going joke in our home too. Our youngest daughter, Abbey (age 20) once said as a young teen, 'Of course it's always MY fault.' So now when something goes wrong, we say, 'Of course it's Abbey's fault' :) I think it will stick forever!

Merry Christmas to you all!

Christine @ Stonehouse Living said...

Hi Jann,

Oh, your Kitchen looks lovely with all of your favorite assistants and little helpers...
What a great idea, to share all of that goodness with each other to take home!
The toffee sounds and looks delicious!
Have a very Merry Christmas!
All the Best,
Christine

Ann@A Sentimental Life said...

I must say you are one lucky girl! Cherish these days.
Merry Christmas!

Shannon said...

It looks like y'all had a great time! That is truly what memories are made of! Some of my fondest memories of my grandmother involve her cooking. I still have a few more goodies to cook today!!

Helen and her Daughters said...

Isn't it so much fun to have a day to spend baking with your girls, I just had cookie day with my nieces and great nieces and we had such a great time! What wonderful memories you are making with your girls.

Lynn Stevens said...

Hi jann,
I had to laugh when I read your comment about my other friend Jann. LOL Yes its unusual to have both you spell your name that way.
Then I pop over here and see your making candy!! Thats what I did today!!! I manage to make the same kind of mess when I'm baking! LOL
have a wonderful Christmas!
Hugs Lynn

~Lavender Dreamer~ said...

This looks like such fun! Merry Christmas to you and your sweet family! ♥♥♥

Southwest Cottage Designs said...

I think y'all had a very fun time doing all that baking! Thank you for visiting my blog and commenting about the Bible. I thought almost the same thing you said...imagining someone curled up reading a scripture that helped them that day. It's what Christmas is all about:)

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